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02-05-2014: Buson: The Great Japanese Haiku Writer

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Episode Description: This Dharma talk, offered by Natalie Goldberg, focuses on the writing practice of haiku, particularly the haiku of Buson. Buson, a student of the great haiku master Basho, is considered one of the four greatest Japanese haiku writers. However, there is only one complete translation of Buson’s haiku available in English (“Haiku Master Buson” published by White Pine Press). Natalie fell in love with the haiku of Buson when she read this one in 1992: “Ah, grief and sadness/ the fishing line trembles/ in the autumn breeze.” While on a recent trip to Japan, Natalie paid a visit to Buson’s gravesite on the outskirts of Kyoto to pay respect to the great master. Touchingly, Buson is buried very near his master Basho’s old grass hut, and the graves of Buson’s own haiku disciples surround his own. Natalie recounts this beautiful pilgrimage in some detail, interspersing a persistent admonition that we must each live our own lives, not trying to be someone we’re not, not trying to emulate our teachers, and making every effort to “materialize our desires.” Natalie ends her talk by reading a number of Buson’s haiku and taking a few questions from the audience.

Bio: Natalie Goldberg is the author of ten books, including Writing Down the Bones, which has sold over one million copies and has been translated into twelve languages. She has also written the beloved Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America, a memoir about her Zen teacher. For the last thirty years she has practiced Zen and taught seminars in writing as a spiritual practice. She lives in northern New Mexico.